Individuals born between 1995 and 2010 are a part of Generation Zoomer, also known as Gen Z. Older generations tend to think that Gen Z are younger people dependent on technology. However, there is more to their stories.
Gen Z has grown up through tragic events, such as 9/11 and the Afghanistan and Iraq war. They have grown up in a world with an unstable economy. These events explain why many people of Gen Z do not want to have children in the future.
According to the Minnesota Daily, “One of the biggest concerns that led Gen Z to choose this lifestyle is financial insecurity. The cost of raising a child from before they are born to when they turn 18, and sometimes longer, is incredibly expensive: ranging from $200,000 to $300,000.”
The average American in the middle class makes around $40,000 annually.
Vanguard sees the USA’s economy rising 2.5% by the end of 2025. Which will raise the prices of goods even higher. Trump’s plan to put turfs on international goods, may lead to American citizens struggling to pay their bills.
A reason Gen Z women do not want children is the effects it could have on their bodies. Pregnancy comes with many risks, such as miscarriage, blood pressure problems, and excessive blood loss during birth.
Ashton Lloyd, a senior, said he does not want his wife to have kids. Being pregnant alone costs so much let alone when the child is born. He said it costs so much just to have medical care, health care, and supplies that can drain his bank account and he does not want his wife to have to go through that.
Lloyd is also scared to raise a child in this society because he is afraid his kids will face judgment. He believes that with or without a child, his future will look the same, just less expensive and with a nicer career. Even though Llyod wants to pass down his traditions, he is also okay with not being able to. He hopes to pass them down to his nieces and nephews.
Despite all of this, the thought of children is a good thought for others. Noah McCarrick, a sophomore, said that he wants to have children in his future to pass down the traditions and morals that are valuable to him.
McCarrick said, “[Values] I want to pass down to my children, including them, that they have acquired a love for cooking and baking like me. [I also want to teach them to be] a Christian who reads the bible daily, celebrates different holidays, and is kind to everyone.”
McCarrick said that he wants to have children because he wants to make memories with them and get to enjoy life as a parent.
Being a parent can come with the highs and lows, but for some, it’s part of their life, while others do not want to care for such a fragile child.
